Coaster-brake for bicycles.



UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

ERNEST L. MORSE, OF NElV BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

COASTER-BRAKE FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 677,682, dated July 2, 1901.

Application filed May 3,1901. Serial No. 58,651. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Beitknown that I, ERNEST L. MORSE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Bedford, in the countyof Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Coaster- Brakes for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which when applied to a bicycle allows the propelling-wheel of the same to revolve in a forward direction while the pedals are at rest and which when the pedals are moved in a backward direction retards the motion of the bicycle or brings it to a stop.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, in which Figure l is arear view, in longitudinal section, of thehub of the propelling-wheel of a bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of one of the operat ing parts; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the sprocket, showing its construct-ion.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the several views.

The letter a represents the stationary shaft of the propelling-wheel.

b is the outer shell of the hub, having the inwardly -projecting inclined surface 0 and the ball-cup c integral therewith.

c" is an inclined surface which is screwed within the hub to a shoulder.

d is a'sleeve adapted to slide laterally on the shaft (0 and having the cones d and d integral therewith,adapted to bear against the inclined surfaces 0 and c at certain times to cause friction. Said sleeve is prevented from turning on the shaft (1 when the said cones and inclines are in frictional contact by the pins .9 passing through the shaft a and into the elongated holes w w in said sleeve (Z, which holes allow the sleeve to have a lateral motion on the shaft (1.

g is a ball-cu p, which is forced to a shoulder in the hub Z).

u is a cone, which is screwed on the shaft a as a bearing for the balls in the ball-cup g.

his the sprocket, having the inclines Z on its inner diameter adapted to receive the balls Z, and is mounted on the hub, so that when revolved in a forward direction the balls Z act as a clutch and revolve the hub in the same direction; but when the sprocket is held in a state of rest the hub Z) is free to revolve in a forward direction.

is is a sleeve interiorly screw threaded, having the cupped flange e, the edge of which is provided with the inclines 7*, adapted to receive the balls m.

- 19 is a cone adapted to bear against the balls in the ball-cup c and is screwed to the flange e by the screws 0.

0 0 are shouldered screws seated in the flange e, the outer ends of which are adapted to have a lateral motion through apertures in the flanged nut f, which nut is held in place on the shaft a by the jam-nut c, and thus holds the flanged sleeve 7r, rigid with the shaft a. The interiorly-threaded sleeve k takes onto the threaded end a of the sleeve cZ and is so adjusted thereon that the cones on the sleeve (1 are just out of contact with the inclines c and a when the balls m arealso just out of contact with the washer 00, which is interposed between the said balls and the side of the sprocket h. The sleeve d, the flanged sleeve 70, and the flanged nutfwhen adjusted are held in the said positions relatively by the jam-nut o. I

The operation of the device is as follows: When the sprocket is revolved in a forward direction, the balls Z between'the sprocket h and the hub 17 act as a clutch and revolve the hub in the same direction. When it is de sired to coast, the sprocket is held in a stationary position and thehub revolves freely. When itis desired to retard the motion of the wheel or bring it to a stop, the sprocket is revolved slightly in a backward direction. This action causes the balls m to roll up the in clines r, and thereby forces the flanged sleeve to the right, taking with it the 'sleeve d, and thus brings the cones d and d into frictional contact with the inclined surfaces 0 and 0, thus retarding the motion of the wheel or bringing it to a full stop, according as a greater or less force is used in back-pedaling.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is

A coaster-brake for bicycles, comprising a stationary shaft supported in the frame of the bicycle; a sleeve, having one or more fric-' tion-cones integral therewith adapted to have a longitudinal motion on said shaft; a hub having inclined surfaces projecting in wardly therefrom adapted to engage said frictioncones; a sprocket fitting on said hub, having its inner diameter provided with inclines and balls, acting as a clutch to revolve the hub with the sprocket, when revolved in a forward direction; a cup-flanged sleeve, adapted to take onto the cone-sleeve and be adjusted thereon, the edge of said cup-flange having inclines provided With balls adapted to bear against a washer interposed between said balls and the side of said sprocket; screws,

seated in the flange of said sleeve, having their outer ends adapted to have a longitudinal motion through apertures in a flanged nut adj ustably secured to said shaft; and the usual ball-cups, balls, and cones, on which the hub revolves, substantially as. shown and described.

Signed by me at New Bedford, Massachusetts, this 16th day of April, 1901.

ERNEST L. MORSE.

Witnesses: v

EDWARD P. HAsKELL, EDWIN V. BURKE. 

